Brenn! Concert Review

By Ellie First + Gabrielle Uson

Up-and-coming indie folk-infused pop artist Brenn! took the stage at Druid City Music Hall on Thursday, Nov. 21. 

Brenn!, a Tuscaloosa native, has recently gained traction through his song “4runner,” which took the social media platform TikTok by storm.

Blending the folky vocal styles of artists such as Noah Kahan with lyrical themes of escapism, possibility and the wide open road, Brenn! makes music fit for the next Great American road trip.

Concert highlights included original songs “Water,” new release “Days on End,” “Rearview” and, of course, a hometown show finale with the hit “4runner.” Brenn! also indulged the crowd with a variety of covers including “Everybody Talks,” “I Love You So,” and an energetic mashup of “Party in the USA” and “As It Was.”

Seeing a non-country artist in Tuscaloosa is rare, and it was certainly exciting to see a local indie artist energize the crowd and make waves not only locally, but on a national scale with the virality of “4runner.” The pride Brenn! felt for his hometown show was evident in such an intimate venue as he played to friends and family.

A personal favorite moment of the concert was the performance of Brenn!’s new release “Days on End.” The lyrics in the chorus “Did the mountains call your name, louder than I did? I screamed and I lost my voice for days on end” followed by the gritty guitar riff, almost making listeners feel as if they’re the main character in a coming-of-age adventure film. His raw, vulnerable lyrics resonated even more deeply as the crowd sang them in unison.

It’s an exciting moment for artists like Brenn! as folk-pop makes its way into the mainstream charts, and we’re sure to see more from the “King of the South” in Tuscaloosa and beyond.